Last month we welcomed Dr Stephen Edwards to the Mental Health Line and he has already settled in and is making a difference!  We sadly said farewell to Sam (Samantha Hoyle) who is taking a break between jobs although we’re not sure how much of a break it is as she’s dog- sitting and completing an assignment at the same time.  We wish her all the best in the future. 

Also congratulations to Eero Suojanen who replaces Sam as Operations Manager.  Eero was previously our Clinical Advisor.

If you know anyone who has Mental Health experience, particularly managing risk, we are looking for a Clinical Advisor (part time or full time ).  If you know someone who would like to work with a very friendly, supportive team get them to contact Annie Bradshaw for more info.  annieb@lifeline.org.nz

A warm welcome to Dee Mugwangi and Danielle Di Riscio.  Dee is a Clinical Advisor and Danielle is a call handler.  Welcome ladies, lovely to have you onboard.

Congratulations to Rikeeta Tarak who has been appointed Information Resource Services Manager.  Essentially she will be running FVIL and 211 lines and Victims of Crime line when it starts.  Rikeeta has been with Lifeline for about a year and we’re very happy she has accepted the new role.  Rikeeta is also a Living Works Facilitator so she will be a busy lady!

Congratulations are in order for Alan Scott who handed over the Manager’s role to Rikeeta.  Alan has been appointed Manager of Gambling HelpLine.  Alan originally worked for Gambling Helpline so he is returning from whence he came.  Luckily he is only upstairs so he will very much still be a part of Lifeline.

Baby Boom

We’re awaiting the baby boom in Lifeline.  Michele Yeoman ex Mental Health Line is due any day and Dylan Norton, NDI is expecting to become a Dad in the next fortnight...  Good luck guys, make the most of your sleep while you can!

New Living Works Project Manager : Kail Watson

I’m very pleased to introduce myself as Lifeline Aoteoroa’s newly appointed Living Works Project Manager. I have been bribed with delicious cookies in order to write this mini biography which is supposed to explain a bit about me. In the words of Robert Plant “Life is a story that can’t be told”. Keeping this maxim in mind I will give it a go, yet knowing that it is folly I will keep it short.

With my background in Sales, Construction, Marketing, business & property development, bribery has always worked, so it is with pleasure that I continue in this tradition by accepting fine office baked cookies. I have worked in a wide variety of Sales roles from direct selling and retail showroom work  to business to business contract negotiation. I am a Builder by trade and have a diverse range of interests that have fuelled me on my ongoing investigation into the mysteries of being.

It is with great pleasure that I come to work for Lifeline and to share amongst such skilled, dedicated and fascinating people is a great privilege for me. Essentially my work and passion is with communication in all its manifold expressions.  The root word being to commune with oneself, with others with life and the world is the Art of living of which I consider myself a student.

In communicating effectively I seek harmony and enjoyment.  This has brought me to my current position working with a proactive organisation with a core intention for restoring balance to individuals, families and communities.

Now as this is in danger of no longer being short ,I will finish by saying that I look forward to getting to know you all better. Also  a  big thank you to everybody here at Lifeline Aoteoroa for such a warm and wonderful welcome.

In conclusion a quote from cookie monster “C is for cookie and its good enough for me!”